Closure and pouring device for containers

ABSTRACT

A closure device for cans or like containers comprising integrally formed first and second parts with a frangible bridge connecting part forming a guarantee seal. The first part is snap engageable into an opening in the wall of a can so that it cannot be removed therefrom without it being immediately apparent, such as by the breakage of a specially weakened part. The second part is held in the closed position by the frangible connecting part which must be broken in order to effect initial opening of the closure device to extend the said second part to a pouring position. Reclosure, but not resealing, can be effected by retracting the second part back to its initial position until cooperating abutments on the first and second parts engage.

United States Patent Guala CLOSURE AND POURING DEVICE FOR CONTAINERS Inventor: Piergiacomo Guala, Alessandria,

Italy Angelo Guala Di Piergiacomo E. Roberto Guala & C.S.A.S., Alessandria, Italy Filed: June 27, 1973 Appl. No.: 374,166

Assignee:

Foreign Application Priority Data Jan. 19, 1973 Italy 67091/73 US. Cl. 222/525, 222/541 Int. Cl 865d 25/44 Field of Search 222/478, 479, 481, 499,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 12/1956 Rieke 222/425 3,752,369 8/1973 Robert 222/54] Primary ExaminerRobert B. Reeves Assistant Examiner-Larry Martin Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Sughrue, Rothwell, Mion,

Zinn & Macpeak [5 7] ABSTRACT A closure device for cans or like containers comprising integrally formed first and second parts with a frangible bridge connecting part forming a guarantee seal. The first part is snap engageable into an opening in the wall of a can so that it cannot be removed therefrom without it being immediately apparent, such as by the breakage of a specially weakened part. The second part is held in the closed position by the frangible connecting part which must be broken in order to effect initial opening of the closure device to extend the said second part to a pouring position. Reclosure, but not resealing, can be effected by retracting the second part back to its initial position until cooperating abutments on the first and second parts engage.

3 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures CLOSURE AND POURING DEVICE FOR CONTAINERS The present invention relates to closure devices for cans and like containers, and particularly to closure devices of the type comprising a fixed annular part which can be fitted over an opening in one of the end walls of a can, and a pouring tube, mounted movably on the fixed part such as to be extendable to a position at which withdrawal of the contents of the can may be effected, and which can be retracted into the fixed annular part so as to be substantially flush with the said end wall of the can when it is not being used.

Closure devices of this general type are known; in the known devices the pourer tube is provided with means for facilitating extension thereof and is initially held in the retracted position by a separate frangible element acting as a guarantee seal, which must be removed or broken to allow the first opening.

Generally, the devices of the above mentioned type are assembled from several component parts which have to be provided separately and then assembled together before being mounted on the can.

The present invention seeks to produce a closure arrangement of the above mentioned type which is of simple and strong construction, and which requires no assembly prior to being mounted on the can.

According to the present invention a closure device for cans and like containers, of the type comprising a first part rigidly attachable to the can, and a second part relatively movable with respect to the first part between a closed position and an open position so as to form a pourer tube, has the said first and second parts formed as a single body of a resilient plastics material, the said first part having an outwardly radially directed flange and an outer annular ridge by means of which the said first part may be snap engaged into the rim of an opening in a wall of the can, the said second part, which forms the pourer tube, being coaxial with the said first part and having a transverse closure wall which is provided with a holder device, the said second part having openings at the upper part thereof to allow liquid to be poured therefrom when in the said open position, the transverse closure wall of the said second part being connected to the said first part by means of a frangible bridge portion which holds the said second part in the retracted position inside the can and seals the closure device until it is broken, upon first opening of the closure device, by the application of an axial force between the said holder device and the said first part in a direction tending to cause extension of the said second part from the said closed position to the said open position, the said second part having a first annular ridge which abuts a cooperating abutment on the first part to prevent removal thereof from the can, and a second annular ridge which abuts a cooperating abutment of the first part in the retracted or closed position.

One feature of embodiments of this invention is that emptying of a can is facilitated thereby and it is possible to recover the residual drops on the pourer tube and to convey these inside the can.

Another feature of embodiments of this invention is that any attempt to remove the fixed annular part from the end wall of the can so as to remove the contents parent.

Two embodiments of the invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an axial section of a closure device for cans and like containers formed as a first embodiment of this invention, shown in the initial sealed position;

FIG. 2 is an axial section similar to FIG. 1, showing the device in the open position for withdrawal of the contents from the can;

FIG. 3 is an axial section similar to FIGS. 1 and 2, showing the device in a partially closed position effected after the first opening;

7 FIG. 4 is an axial section of a second embodiment of the invention, shown in the original sealed position;

FIG. 5 is a plan view from above of the embodiment of FIG. 4;

FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 are three partially sectioned perspective views, illustrating the various stages in unsealing and opening of the device shown in FIGS. 4 and 5; and

FIG. 9 is an axial section, similar to FIG. 4, showing the same embodiment in the position of partial closure effected after the first opening.

The embodiments of this invention to be described herein will be described in the orientation shown in the drawings; references to upper and lower will be construed accordingly without limitation.

With reference now to FIGS. 1 to 3, there is shown the upper wall 1 of a can or like container in which there is cut a circular opening surrounding which the wall 1 of the can is formed as a shallow annular recess 2 having a downwardly turned lip 3. Housed in the opening in the wall 1 there is a closure device formed as an embodiment of this invention and constituted by a single body 4 of flexible plasticsmaterial. The closure device comprises an upper fixed part, formed by an annular portion 5 having an outwardly projecting annular ridge 6 of approximately triangular cross section, which permits snap assembly to the lip 3 of the wall 1 of the can. At the top of the annular portion 5 there is provided a radial flange 7 which rests in the shallow recess 2 which surrounds the opening in the wall 1 of the can. The flange 7 is connected to the annular portion 5 through a weakened circular zone 8 forming part of the guarantee seal, which breaks easily if any attempt is made to remove the device from the can by applying a force to the flange 7.

From the base of the upper annular portion 5 there extends inwardly an annular ridge 9 to which is connected, through an annular portion 10 of reduced thickness which forms a frangible seal, a lower tubular part 11 which constitutes the pourer tube. The lower part 11 is closed at the top by a transverse wall 12 of relatively great strength, from the upper face of which project holding devices 20 in the form of two half-rings which enable extension of the pourer tube from the can and breakage of the frangible seal formed by the thin annular portion 10, as will be discussed hereinafter.

The lower tubular part 11 has at the base a radially:

outwardly projecting annular ridge 13 which, when the pourer tube 11 is extended, abuts against the radially inwardly directed ridge 9 of the upper part 5 to restrict extension of the tube 11 from the can. The upper part of the tube 11 is circumferentially interrupted to form a single annular opening around the lower edge of which extends circumferentially a very flexible lip 15 for preventing drips.. Integrally formed with the transverse top wall 12 of the pourer tube 11 is a tubular element 16 extending coaxially within the pourer tube 11 and connected thereto by means of radial ribs 17 which separate the annular opening into a plurality of smaller openings 14.

The outer curved face of the tube 11 has a first resilient radially outwardly extending annular ridge 18 near the top of the wall 11, and a second, smaller outwardly extending annular ridge l9 projecting less than the ridge l8, and situated a short distance from the basal annular ridge 13.

When initially sealed, as depicted in FIG. 1, the lower tubular part 11 is attached to the upper annular part 5 by the weak annular bridge 10, and is housed entirely within the can: the device thus prevents any unauthorised withdrawal of liquid due to the fact that devices completely closes the can, the transverse wall 12 being effectively continuous with the frangible annular bridge portion 10. Any attempt to remove the contents of the can by prising at the upper flange 7, would cause breakage of the weakened zone 8 so that the flange would detach from the annular part 5 and attempt would be readily detectable.

To effect the first opening of the can a strong axial pull must be exerted upwards upon the holding devices 20, thereby causing breakage of the frangible annular bridge portion 10 and consequent extension of the pourer tube 11 from the can 1, the tube 11 moves upwardly with respect to the upper annular portion 5 which is secured to the can, and stops in the fully extended position when its basal ridge 13 abuts against the radially inwardly projecting ridge 9 of the annular portion 5 as shown in FIG. 2. As the pourer tube is moved the first annular projection 18 of the tube 11, the flexible lip 15, and the second lowerprojection l9 become elastically deformed to pass the internal annular ridge 9 of the fixed annular portion 5, which has a diameter less than that of these projecting ridges on the tube 11.

The lower projection 19 abuts against the ridge 9 to hold the tube 11 :in the extended position, preventing it from falling back into the can through its own weight. In this position liquid may be drawn off from the can by tilting the can so that the liquid flows out through some of the apertures 14, whilst air penetrates into the can through the radial apertures 14 on the other side of the pourer tube 11.

If it be desired to effect reclosure of the can the tube 11 is merely pushed axially towards the bottom so as to overcome the resistance of the abutment of the lower ridge 19 of the tube 11 with the inner ridge 9 of fixed annular portion, the movement of the tube being continued until the upper annular ridge l8 abuts against the upper face of the ridge 9 of the fixed annular portion as shown in FIG. 3. In this position entry of dust or other foreign bodies into the can is prevented.

During the reclosure of the pourer tube 1 1, any residual drops remaining on the pourer tube 11 and the fixed annular portion 5, are reconveyed inside the can through the radial apertures 14.

FIGS. 4 to 9 show a second embodiment of the invention. This embodiment comprises a single body 4 made out of flexible plastics material, comprising a fixed upper part 5' which can be snap engaged to the upper wall 1' of a can in through an opening having a downwardly turned lip 3, and a lower tubular part I 1' constituting the pourer tube, similar to the embodiment described above.

The tube ll has a constricted zone 21 spaced from the upper end, which ends in a lip 22 for the drops. At the top the tube 11' is closed by a transverse wall 12' integral with an internal tubular element 16' coaxial with the tube, and connected to the constricted zone 21 of the tube 11 by means of radial ribs 17' which form a plurality of radial apertures 14', delimited at the top by a transverse annular element 23 which extends parallel to the upper wall 12 and is spaced slightly therefrom. The peripheral edge of the element 23 projects radially outwardly slightly further than the lip 22 for the drops.

The upper closure wall 12' extends radially beyond the internal tubular element 16' and is connected to an internal annular ridge 9 of the upper fixed part 5', through two semi-circular bands 24 delimited by two radially spaced semi-circular weakened breakage lines 25. The ends of the two semi-circular bands 24 which together form a guarantee seal, are separated by radial opposed ribs 26 of greater thickness and are connected by means of two stems 27 of considerable strength to an upper annular element 28 which forms a convenient handle for the tear-off opening.

When completely sealed, as shown in FIG. 4, the pourer tube 11' is in the retracted position inside the can, whilst the upper wall 12' is located coplanarly with the annular ridge 9 of the upper fixed part 5 and the seal is guaranteed by the presence of the semi-circular bands 24.

To effect the first opening, as shown in FIG. 6, the holder device 28 is grasped and strong upward force is exerted. Since the connecting stems 27 are connected to respective bands 24 near to the radial ribs 16, the bands 24 each start to detach themselves at one end from the ribs. Upon continued application of the force, the bands 24 are further separated from the annular ridge 9 due to the yielding of the weakened circular lines 25, but the bands 24 remain connected at their ends to the radial ribs 26 which constitute two bridges extending between the fixed part and the movable part. A further application of force causes breakage of the ribs where they join the upper fixed part 5' so-that the pourer tube 11' may be extended axially as seen in FIG. 7, until it is brought into the raised pouring position, in which the internal annular ridge 9 of the fixed part is engaged in the annular recess formed by the two lower annular ridges l3 and 19 of the tube 11.

The two semi-circular bands 24 are still attached to the transverse wall 12' of the pourer tube by the radial ribs 26, and if desired these, and the circular handle 28 may be left in position for opening and reclosing operations. If, on the other hand, it ispreferred to remove them, this may be achieved by a further application of force to effect detachment as shown in FIG. 8.

The pourer tube 11' may be reclosed, although not rescaled, as shown in FIG. 9; for this purpose the tube 11' is pushed downwards until the transverse annular element 23 engages the internal annular ridge 9 of the upper fixed part 5: in this position the peripheral edge 23a of the annular element 23 deforms resiliently, bending upwards, so as to ensure that a relatively tight closure is obtained.

In both of the embodiments described above, manufacture in one single piece of the whole closure device allows simplification of the construction, and eliminates any preliminary assembly operation prior to mounting on the can, as is required for previously known such devices in two or more parts. In operation embodiments of this invention offer the same advantageous characteristics as the known devices.

It will be understood that the manner of operation and the details of construction of the invention may be varied widely, with respect to what has been described and illustrated, without thereby departing from the scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. In a closure device for a can or the like container, of the type comprising:

a first part attachable to a can, and

a second part relatively movable between a closed position and an open position to form a retractable pourer tube,

the improvement wherein:

said first and second parts are initially formed as a single body from resilient plastics material with said second part in said closed position and with a frangible connection therebetween forming a guarantee seal of closure, said first and second parts being movable relative to each other after breaking of said frangible connection,

an outer radial flange on said first part,

an outer annular ridge on said first part, said ridge and said flange defining a recess therebetween whereby said first part is snap engageable to the rim of an opening in a wall of a can,

a transverse closure wall on said second part,

holder means on said transverse closure wall,

openings in said second part to allow liquid to be poured out therefrom when said second part is moved to said open position by the application of an axial force to said holder means to rupture said frangible-connection between said first part and said second part and extend said second part,

first outer annular ridge means on said second part,

abutment means on said first part, said first annular ridge means abutting said abutment means to define said open position of said second part, second outer annular ridge means on said second part, said second outer annular ridge means abutting said abutment means to define said closed position of said second part, said second part forming said pourer tube including:

an outer tubular element, an inner tubular element coaxial with said outer tubular element and projecting from the upper end thereof, radial fins interconnecting said outer tubular element and said coaxial inner tubular element, said transverse closure wall being attached to the upper end of said coaxial inner tubular element whereby said openings in said second part are defined between said upper end of said outer tubular element, said radial fins, and the outer periphery of said transverse closure wall. 2. In a closure device for a can or the like container, of the type comprising:

a first part attachable to a can, and

a second part relatively movable between a closed position and an open position to form a retractable pourer tube, the improvement wherein:

said first and second parts are initially formed as a single body from resilient plastics material with said second part in said closed position and with a frangible connection therebetween forming a guarantee seal of closure, said first and second parts being movable relative to each other after breaking of said frangible connection,

an outer radial flange on said first part,

an outer annular ridge on said first part, said ridge and said flange defining a recess therebetween whereby said first part is snap engageable to the rim of an opening in a wall of a can,

a transverse closure wall on said second part,

holder means on said transverse closure wall,

openings in said second part to allow liquid to be poured out therefrom when said second part is moved to said open position by the application of an axial force to said holder means to rupture said frangible connection between said first part and said second part and extend said second part,

first outer annular ridge means on said second part,

abutment means on said first part, said first annular ridge means abutting said abutment means to define said open position of said second part,

second outer annular ridge means on said second part, said second outer annular ridge means abutting said abutment means to define said closed position of said second part, said frangible connection between said first and second parts being formed by two semi-circular bands defined by weakened lines on either side thereof between said first part and said transverse closure wall of said second part, two opposed radial ribs defining the ends of said semicircular bands,

respective upstanding stems on one end of each of said semicircular bands,

an annular holder means supported by said stems, whereby said frangible connection between said first and second parts of said device may be broken by the application of an axial force to said holder means to tear off said semi-circular bands along said weakened lines and to extend said second part to said open position.

3. The closure device of claim 2 wherein said second part includes:

a pourer tube element having a constricted zone at the upper end thereof and an outwardly turned radial lip, I

an inner tubular element coaxial with said pourer tube element and extending upwardly past the upper end thereof,

said transverse closure wall of said second part being integrally formed with the upper end of said coaxial inner tubular element, and I an annular transverse element substantially parallel to said transverse closure wall and spaced therefrom downwardly along said inner coaxial tubular element, said annular transverse element forming said second outer annular ridge means of said second part and acting to define said closed position of said deviceby abutting against said abutment means of said first part when said second part is retracted. 

1. In a closure device for a can or the like container, of the type comprising: a first part attachable to a can, and a second part relatively movable between a closed position and an open position to form a retractable pourer tube, the improvement wherein: said first and second parts are initially formed as a single body from resilient plastics material with said second part in said closed position and with a frangible connection therebetween foRming a guarantee seal of closure, said first and second parts being movable relative to each other after breaking of said frangible connection, an outer radial flange on said first part, an outer annular ridge on said first part, said ridge and said flange defining a recess therebetween whereby said first part is snap engageable to the rim of an opening in a wall of a can, a transverse closure wall on said second part, holder means on said transverse closure wall, openings in said second part to allow liquid to be poured out therefrom when said second part is moved to said open position by the application of an axial force to said holder means to rupture said frangible connection between said first part and said second part and extend said second part, first outer annular ridge means on said second part, abutment means on said first part, said first annular ridge means abutting said abutment means to define said open position of said second part, second outer annular ridge means on said second part, said second outer annular ridge means abutting said abutment means to define said closed position of said second part, said second part forming said pourer tube including: an outer tubular element, an inner tubular element coaxial with said outer tubular element and projecting from the upper end thereof, radial fins interconnecting said outer tubular element and said coaxial inner tubular element, said transverse closure wall being attached to the upper end of said coaxial inner tubular element whereby said openings in said second part are defined between said upper end of said outer tubular element, said radial fins, and the outer periphery of said transverse closure wall.
 2. In a closure device for a can or the like container, of the type comprising: a first part attachable to a can, and a second part relatively movable between a closed position and an open position to form a retractable pourer tube, the improvement wherein: said first and second parts are initially formed as a single body from resilient plastics material with said second part in said closed position and with a frangible connection therebetween forming a guarantee seal of closure, said first and second parts being movable relative to each other after breaking of said frangible connection, an outer radial flange on said first part, an outer annular ridge on said first part, said ridge and said flange defining a recess therebetween whereby said first part is snap engageable to the rim of an opening in a wall of a can, a transverse closure wall on said second part, holder means on said transverse closure wall, openings in said second part to allow liquid to be poured out therefrom when said second part is moved to said open position by the application of an axial force to said holder means to rupture said frangible connection between said first part and said second part and extend said second part, first outer annular ridge means on said second part, abutment means on said first part, said first annular ridge means abutting said abutment means to define said open position of said second part, second outer annular ridge means on said second part, said second outer annular ridge means abutting said abutment means to define said closed position of said second part, said frangible connection between said first and second parts being formed by two semi-circular bands defined by weakened lines on either side thereof between said first part and said transverse closure wall of said second part, two opposed radial ribs defining the ends of said semicircular bands, respective upstanding stems on one end of each of said semicircular bands, an annular holder means supported by said stems, whereby said frangible connection between said first and second parts of said device may be broken by the application of an axial force to said holder means to tear off said semi-circular bands along sAid weakened lines and to extend said second part to said open position.
 3. The closure device of claim 2 wherein said second part includes: a pourer tube element having a constricted zone at the upper end thereof and an outwardly turned radial lip, an inner tubular element coaxial with said pourer tube element and extending upwardly past the upper end thereof, said transverse closure wall of said second part being integrally formed with the upper end of said coaxial inner tubular element, and an annular transverse element substantially parallel to said transverse closure wall and spaced therefrom downwardly along said inner coaxial tubular element, said annular transverse element forming said second outer annular ridge means of said second part and acting to define said closed position of said device by abutting against said abutment means of said first part when said second part is retracted. 